techniques for adding supplements

[hookednewbie]

Hi, I jumped into the deep end and went from having no corals to having a tank full )Mostly softies but a frogspawn too). I am now testing daily and have also got replacement calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium. My question is how slow is considered slow to add these replacements to the tank and is the best practice to add it directly to a high flow area of the tank. Currently (over the last 2 nights) in the evenings when I replace my evaporated water with RO freshwater I add the supplement into the replacement water then add this to a high flow area a little at a time over 30 minutes. Does this sound right? The highest concentration element I'm having to replace is my magnesium as my first tested level was in the 800's and I'd like to get it to around 1300. I have not seen any particulate (snow?). Any recommendatiosn are advice? Thanks

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by hookednewbie http:///t/387633/techniques-for-adding-supplements#post_3412228
Hi, I jumped into the deep end and went from having no corals to having a tank full )Mostly softies but a frogspawn too). I am now testing daily and have also got replacement calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium. My question is how slow is considered slow to add these replacements to the tank and is the best practice to add it directly to a high flow area of the tank. Currently (over the last 2 nights) in the evenings when I replace my evaporated water with RO freshwater I add the supplement into the replacement water then add this to a high flow area a little at a time over 30 minutes. Does this sound right? The highest concentration element I'm having to replace is my magnesium as my first tested level was in the 800's and I'd like to get it to around 1300. I have not seen any particulate (snow?). Any recommendatiosn are advice? Thanks
I have had my tank for years, with regular water changes you should not have to be dosing magnesium at all. What test kits are you using? and How old are they?

 

[acrylic51]

Best advice is test before adding anything.....Addition of Mag isn't unheard of though.....A lot of things can influence your levels.

 

[gemmy]

I believe that PH, alkalinity and magnesium are all connected. Maybe someone *cough* Bang *cough* will chime in with more info.

 

[acrylic51]

You are correct the do relate to each other.

 

[hookednewbie]

Ok so I got a new test kit Red Sea Pro today and my mag level is 1500, so I'm glad I hadn't yet started replacing anything drastically, I was too afraid to make big moves. So my levels are
1.024 SG
Calcium 440
Mag 1500
Carbonate hardiness 7 degrees
pH 8.2
phos 0.25
nitrate 10
Corals have been in the tank 2 days now ( I basically got a tank full from a gentleman getting out of the hobby). I have bulk reef supplies 2 part dosing system. My new plan is to watch all levels daily for a week without adding daily supplementation (unless anything looks really drastic) and then next week if everything is settling in all right I will start dosing per recipe 1 soft coral schedule. For now I will be adding the supplements to my top off water in the evening slowly adding, eventually I hope to move on to a sump and then will be able to add to the sump. Does this sound right to you all? Thanks for your time
Lisa

 

[hookednewbie]

 

[hookednewbie]

Found this, it's still a little over my head (it's been a long time since I took any science classes) but I get the idea behind what causes precipitate now and that makes me feel more in control. Also I will start adding my supplements separately now instead of putting them all in my top off water
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php

 

[snakeblitz33]

Don't add anything unless you test.
Now that I have my butt covered...
You can bring all of your chemicals back into balance with a simple water change. With that being said, I hate to do water changes and only do them once every six months to a year or as necessary. Therefore, in my reef tank, I dose limewater to make up for calcium and alkalinity being low or to supplement it. I also add a vitamin complex - even though there is some research that says it's good and some bad.
Our aquariums are closed systems - everything is used and re-used, but you do have to supplement occasionally with calcium/alkalinity. All other trace elements can be replenished with small water changes. The more research I do, the more I realize the importance of supplementing with vitamins. But that's another story.

 

[siptang]

Looking good friend!
Looks like all the helpful people are covering all the bases here!